In Defense of Ska
301 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 76 ratingsSka no longer needs to be the butt of every joke. IDOS is flipping the narrative on this style of music that they love dearly.Hosts Aaron Carnes (author of "In Defense of Ska") and Adam Davis (Link 80, Omingone) chat with people in and outside of the ska scene to tell its stories, show its pervasiveness in culture, and defend it to their last dying breath.
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Episodes
Behind The Curtain: Bothering ‘Bothering The Band’ TEASER
July 05, 2024 08:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBDid you know that some of our friends are also podcasters? For this month’s bonus episode, we wanted to bring on the fine folks from the Bothering The Band podcast. Their format is this: They bring on musicians and comedians and then proceed to BOTHER them with weird and silly questions. It’s a lot of fun. They’ve even had host, Aaron Carnes on one episode. So, we brought on Ryan and Abby and then BOTHERED them with our own weird and silly questions. Sign up to the IDOS Patreon to listen t...
In Defense of Ska Ep 181: Songwriting with Joe Gittleman (Mighty Mighty Bosstones) & Sammy Kay (The Kilograms)
July 03, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBThis week, In Defense of Ska becomes Song Exploder... or, rather, SKA Exploder. The Kilograms' Sammy Kay and Joe Gittleman (also of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) join the hosts to dissect songs from their respective catalogues. Listen now. Firstly, the gang breaks down Gittleman’s song "Chores," which is taken from his brand new solo album Hold Up. Then, the group launches into a discussion about Kay's "How Fast to Run," which comes from his upcoming album July 1960. Finally, the two give a ...
In Defense of Ska Ep 180: Frank Turner
June 26, 2024 08:00 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBThis week on In Defense of Ska, Frank Turner joins in to discuss growing up with UK skacore, finding a balance between his punkier and folkier tendencies, and his new album Undefeated. Listen now. The English artist joins the In Defense of Ska crew to chat about both his presence in punk circles and singer-songwriter circles. He also, of course, gives his take on ska -- and as it turns out, he has quite a lot of thoughts on the genre! He then details what it was like going to skacore shows...
In Defense of Ska Ep 179: Christian Ska (with Jordan Morris and Kevin T. Porter)
June 19, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 82.4 MBBelieve it or not, back in the late '90s, Christian ska was all the rage. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the hosts tap into their inner musicologists and explore the bands, sounds, and culture of such a movement. Listen now. The gang takes a look at the 'big three' of Christian ska, examining the likes of Five Iron Frenzy, The Supertones, and The Insyderz. They also dial in on the Supertones' sophomore record, The Supertones Strike Back, which went on quite a commercial run at the ti...
In Defense of Ska Ep 178: Lollypop Lorry
June 12, 2024 08:00 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBThis week on In Defense of Ska, Russian trad ska band Lollypop Lorry discuss covering Keith & Ken, collaborating with Inspector, and the Russian ska scene. Listen to the full chat. Formed in 2008, Lollypop Lorry are a Russian ska act that just played their biggest show ever... in Mexico. Suffice to say, it's been an interesting ride from their humble beginnings to finding international success. Luckily, guitarist Ivan Gogolin and drummer Simon Shiriaev are here to break the whole tale down....
In Defense of Ska Ep 177: Voodoo Glow Skulls (Eddie and Jorge Casillas)
June 05, 2024 08:00 - 2 hours - 122 MBOn this episode of In Defense of Ska, '90s skacore legends Voodoo Glow Skulls chat about recording in Spanish, influencing Vampire Weekend, sampling Cheech & Chong, and more. Listen now. Founding members Eddie and Jorge Casillas join In Defense of Ska to chat about their irreverent sample choices, the story behind albums like Who Is, This Is? and Firme, and taking influence from the likes of Fishbone and Skeletones. They two also discuss influencing Vampire Weekend, who they're opening for ...
Behind The Curtain: Foolish Relics: Project Purple Cancer Awareness (TEASER)
May 30, 2024 15:49 - 8 minutes - 7.93 MBFor this month's bonus episode, we aim the spotlight at Tampa ska band Foolish Relics. Lead singer Dino Rustin tells us about his father's battle with pancreatic cancer and how he's written about the experience on their new song, "Forget About Tomorrow (Is This Hell?)" We also talk about Foolish Relics partnership with Project Purple, a pancreatic cancer foundation. After our conversation, there are a few other fun PATREON-EXCLUSIVE odds and ends to listen to. This is the conversation you...
In Defense of Ska Ep 176: Matamoska
May 29, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBIt's no secret that Los Angeles has a thriving, vibrant Latino ska scene. Frankly, it's one of the best pockets of ska music in the country. This week on In Defense of Ska, the hosts chat with one of the bands that helped set the standard for what the community would become -- Matamoska. Listen now. Matamoska's Jose Padilla and Richard Sanchez sit down to discuss the origins of the band, their return after a long hiatus, and the recent release of their self-titled fourth album, which is out...
In Defense of Ska Ep 175: Dr. Ring Ding
May 22, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 73.7 MBDr. Ring Ding joins In Defense of Ska to chat about the origins of the European ska scene, his own journey of falling in love with the genre, and the German ska bands he looks up to. Listen now. Initially popularized by two-tone bands like Madness, The Specials, and The Selecter, ska eventually made its way into different pockets of Europe. One of these pockets was Germany, where a young Dr. Ring Ding fell in love with the genre's unique stylings. Dr. Ring Ding tells the story of how he di...
In Defense of Ska Ep 174: Nate Albert (Mighty Mighty Bosstones)
May 15, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 95 MBSo, there's this pretty cool ska band called The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Perhaps you've heard of them? On this episode of In Defense of Ska, original Mighty Mighty Bosstones guitarist Nate Albert chats about the band's early years, the artists who inspired him, and how other scenes treated ska in the 1990s. Listen now. Albert runs through some of his early memories with the legendary ska act, like scoring No. 1 hit single with "The Impression That I Get." Reflecting on the success of The ...
In Defense of Ska Ep 173: Ceci Bastida (Tijuana No, Julieta Venegas, Mexrrissey)
May 08, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBOn this episode of In Defense of Ska, Ceci Bastida chats about Tijuana No, the world of international ska in the '90s, and her new solo record Everything Taken Away. Bastida takes listeners through the history of Tijuana No, one of the most important bands to come out of the Mexican ska movement. The vocalist and keyboardist runs through the act's early days, their attempts to break into the American market, and how one of her band members eventually became a pop superstar. The artist also...
In Defense of Ska Ep 172: Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, John Zorn, Fantomas)
May 01, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 88.7 MBHere's a question for all the rude boys out there: What's a non-ska band that had an incredible influence over an entire generation of ska artists? The answer is simple -- Mr. Bungle. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the hosts chat with Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn about the band's origins, their relation to ska music, and more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Dunn dives into the intersection between Mr. Bungle and ska, gushing about his love for bands like Fishbone, Bad Manne...
Behind The Curtain: Is Ska A Four Letter Word? W/ Victor Rice (Teaser)
April 26, 2024 08:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBOne of our favorite guests, Victor Rice, is back! He listened to our discussion with Daraka Larimore-Hall about whether third-wave ska deserves the backlash it got, and it got Victor thinking. He wanted to share his thoughts with us. So we went behind the curtain, so he could get comfortable and speak his mind. Is Ska a four-letter word? This is the conversation you've waited for. Sign up to the In Defense of Ska Patreon to listen to it now. Follow the series wherever you get your podc...
In Defense of Ska Ep 171: Suggs (Madness)
April 24, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBIn 1976, a couple friends got together and started a band. They called themselves the North London Invaders, but after quickly rethinking the branding, changed their name to Madness, a reference to a Prince Buster song. Sixteen top-ten hits later, and the band is one of the most successful acts to come out of the two-tone era. This week on In Defense of Ska, Madness' Suggs explores the band's journey, revisits stories from their past, and dives into their 2023 album Theatre of the Absurd Pre...
SKACHELLA: A Ska Review of Coachella
April 19, 2024 16:55 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBThis year’s Coachella belongs to ska. Or at least it’s the ska performances that are making all the headlines. And it makes sense. Sublime is back together. Jakob Nowell is fronting the band in place of his dad, Bradley Nowell. No Doubt played their first show in 9 years—and it leaned heavily into ska. Aquabats played a nearly 70% ska set. Even Vampire Weekend’s drummer was spotted sporting a Skankin’ Pickle shirt. Plus they played a couple of ska-influenced tunes. So for this bonus episode...
In Defense of Ska Ep 170: Jeremy Pena (The Bandulus)
April 17, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 75.5 MBWhat drives a musician to play music overtly rooted in traditional ska and rocksteady? And how do they honor the roots while simultaneously giving it a contemporary flavor? This is the subject this week for our conversation with Jeremy Peña of the band The Bandulus. Their new record Tell It Like It Is dropped on March 8, 2024. It is both lush and raw; rickety and tight. Jeremy walks us through the recording of the album, the thought process behind the songwriting and the influences that went...
In Defense of Ska Ep 169: Save Ferris' Monique Powell
April 10, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 78.8 MBIn the ’90s, ska began to break into the mainstream. And yet, even during the great ska boom, only a handful of bands had an actual radio hit. One of the few acts to accomplish such a feat was Save Ferris, scoring big with their cover of Dexys Midnight Runner's 1982 song “Come on Eileen." This week on In Defense of Ska, Save Ferris vocalist Monique Powell discusses the group, the Orange County scene, having a popular video on MTV, and their monumental cover. Listen wherever you get your podc...
In Defense of Ska Ep 168: The Steady 45's
April 03, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBOne of the best ska bands of the past decade is The Steady 45's, a trad ska group based out of Los Angeles. They are one of the few bands that have been able to call both LA’s lively trad ska and vibrant Latino ska scenes home. So we brought on four members and friend of the band Jackie Mendez to talk about the band’s history and how they’re helping to break down barriers in the ska scene. We talk about the members’ history in punk rock and how they played an Operation Ivy cover set for Es...
Behind The Curtain: I worked At Asian Man Records w/ Bob Vielma
March 29, 2024 21:03 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBOne thing we love doing on this podcast is talking to former members of Asian Man Records and getting all the dirt on Mike Park. This is our third episode in the series. We’ve already spoken to Skylar Suorez and Lazlo Happenstance. Now we talk to Bob Vielma. You probably know Bob from his fire rap verse on “SkrAm” from Jeff Rosenstock’s Ska Dream. His rap alter ego is Boboso, and he’s got a few records you can download on Jeff’s label, Quote Unquote. Bob also played bass in Shinobu and sev...
In Defense of Ska Ep 167: Half Past Two (Tara Hahn & Max Beckman)
March 27, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 99.4 MBHalf Past Two have been around for almost two decades, and yet they still feel like a breath of fresh air in the ska scene. On this episode of In Defense of Ska, lead vocalist Tara Hahn and guitarist Max Beckman discuss the band's history and their brand new album, Talk iI Killing Me (out April 19th). Listen now. Formed in August 2006, Half Past Two effectively came up during the "dark ages" of ska. And yet, they persevered, helping build a sustainable scene in Orange County in the mid-2000...
In Defense of Ska Ep 166: Daraka Larimore-Hall (The Adjusters)
March 20, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 87.1 MBAfter forming in 1995, The Adjusters quickly made a name for themselves in the bustling Chicago scene for their blend of ska and soul, as well as their intensely political edge. Over time, the group has only gotten more and more active. Lead vocalist Daraka Larimore-Hall joins In Defense of Ska this week to dive into the band's history, their overtly socialist politics, and the direction ska took in the '90s. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. The Adjusters may not have ever been chart-...
In Defense of Ska Ep 165: Mutiny (Efrem Schulz, Chris Ruckus, Mike Cambra
March 13, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBOn this week's episode of In Defense of Ska, members of ska supergroup Mutiny -- Efrem Schulz, Chris Ruckus, and Mike Cambra -- discuss the project and its connection to their other bands. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Let's get one thing straight -- ska needs more supergroups. Aside from Rude Girl Revue and Kilograms, they're surprisingly hard to come by. Luckily, Mutiny is here to remidy that! The group features members of Death By Stereo, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Dissidente, Manic Hi...
In Defense of Ska Ep 164: Call Me Malcom (Lucias Malcolm & Mark Farthing)
March 06, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 88.7 MBIt's no secret that ska music is alive and well, and not just in the United States. On this episode of in defense of ska, English ska-punks Call Me Malcolm join to chat about the current scene, the band's history, and their new album Echoes and Ghosts. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Starting from the beginning, guitarist/vocalist Lucias Malcolm and saxophonist/vocalist Mark Farthing chat about the origins of the group, why they write songs with titles like “John Feldmann’s ...
In Defense of Ska Ep 163: Sarah Tudzin (Illuminati Hotties)
February 28, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 83.7 MBOn this week's episode of In Defense of Ska, Illuminati Hotties creative force Sarah Tudzin discusses how her ska roots continue to inform her current artistic output. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. The artist grew up going to punk and ska shows in Southern California, and the influence of such experiences continues to have a major influence on her work. Look no further than her recent collaboration with JER, as she provided guest vocals for Skatune Network's cover of Pain'...
Behind The Curtain: An Interview with Ska Superfan Michelle Ska
February 26, 2024 09:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBMichelle Ska has been to a lot of ska shows. Like A LOT! So many that she's kind of famous in ska circles for being a hardcore, supportive fan. She also went through one of the most harrowing natural disasters of recent time: The 2023 Lahaina Wildfire. We brought her on to talk about ska and give us the full story of what it was like to survive the Lahaina Wildfire. Please consider purchasing the Black Sand Relief album to support Michelle and the People of Maui. If you’d like to suppor...
In Defense of Ska Ep 162: Deals Olan (Out Of Control Army, Tijuana No, The Toasters, Bad Manners, Maskatesta)
February 21, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBThis week, In Defense of Ska heads outside of the United States to dive into the massive ska scene in Mexico. Joined by Jose “Deals” Olan, an experienced musician and promoter in Mexico, the crew explores the fans of the region, the massive festivals, and more. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Olan first cut his teeth by playing saxophone in several bands, and now fronts his own group, Out of Control Army. Right around that same time he launched that project, he also booked h...
In Defense of Ska Ep 161: Adam Pfahler (Jawbreaker, J Church, Whysall Lane)
February 14, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 92 MBThis week on In Defense of Ska, Jawbreaker drummer Adam Pfahler discuss his long-time love of ska, the band existing as a touchstone for future emo bands, and battling notions of selling out when touring with Nirvana. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. As far as bands go, Jawbreaker have quite the story. They've influenced a multiple generations of emo musicians, were called sellouts for signing to a major label, and played a reunion show at Riot Fest that had infinitely more p...
In Defense of Ska Ep 160: Daniel Rachel (Too Much Too Young, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Walls Come Tumbling Down)
February 07, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBThis week on In Defense of Ska, author Daniel Rachel discuss his book, Too Much Too Young -- The 2 Tone Records Story: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts. Rachel tells the story of how 2 tone spread all over the world. While many of the scene's bands were largely cult artists outside of England, they planted seeds for new, important ska scenes around the world. In celebration of how socially 2 tone's sonic and political impor...
In Defense of Ska Ep 159: Norwood Fisher (Fishbone, Trulio Disgracias)
January 31, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 80.7 MBFew American bands have had such an influence on ska music like Fishbone. This week, In Defense of Ska does their second episode on the group, this time featuring bassist Norwood Fisher. Listen to Fisher and the hosts talk about their upcoming tour with GZA, the band's career, and more in the episode below. You can also follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here. Fisher gets into the nitty-gritty of Fishbone's s...
Behind The Curtain: The Real History of Chicken Tenders with Former IDOS Guest Nick Lavallee TEASER
January 26, 2024 09:00 - 9 minutes - 8.48 MBOn this special teaser of In Defense of Ska, season 1 guest Nick Lavallee returns to tell the story of getting Manchester — his hometown — recognized as the Chicken Tender Capital of the World. Listen to the teaser, and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to In Defense of Ska wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about who invented the chicken tenders, how different they are from the way fast food/diners make them, and get the low-down on where to get some of these OG tendies. If y...
In Defense of Ska Ep 158: Craig of the Creek (Jeff Rosenstock & Ben Levin)
January 24, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 97.3 MBMusician and composer Jeff Rosentsock and show-creator Ben Levin join In Defense of Ska to chat about the music behind Craig of the Creek. Both products of ska-punk love, the series' music skanks pretty hard, and that's no accident. The two also get into it about Rancid, ska-tastic collaborations, and dealing with stress. Listen to Ben Levin and Jeff Rosenstock chat about ska, Craig of the Creek, Rancid, and more above. You can also follow the series wherever you get your podcast, or get ea...
In Defense of Ska Ep 157: P-Nut (311): Bob Marley, Jordan Morris' Bubble, and Eric Andre's Sketch
January 17, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBThis is the first episode of our 4th season, and it’s our first as part of the Consequence Podcast Network. So that means, we had to go big this week. We brought the one and only P-Nut on the show. That’s right, the bass player for 311. Today we talk about how 311’s journey overlapped with the rise of ska in the 90s, and how the group existed in a space adjacent to the music. But it makes sense. The group is influenced by ska and reggae, amongst other genres of music. So, P-Nut follows us ...
In Defense of Ska Joins the Consequence Podcast Network!
January 11, 2024 09:00 - 1 minute - 1.49 MBIf you thought 2023 was an awesome year, get ready for 2024! In Defense of Ska is excited to announce that we have joined the Consequence Podcast Network. "Inspired by Carnes best-selling, soon-to-be-expanded book of the same name, In Defense of Ska joins the CPN in time for its fourth season. With new episodes arriving every Wednesday, the show delivers insightful conversations with ska legends, emerging artists, comedians, authors, and cultural figures who share their deep appreciation fo...
In Defense of Ska Ep 156: The Iron Roses (Nathan Gray & Becky Fontaine)
January 10, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 77.3 MBNathan Gray has played music with their band Boysetsfire for decades. But only once during the band’s run did they dabble in ska (“Deja Coup”). But that has completely changed now with Nathan’s new group, The Iron Roses, a joyful punk band with heavy doses of ska and reggae. The joy in the band is purposeful, a middle finger aimed at the rise in racism, homophobia, transphobia and fascism, making ska the perfect vehicle for the band’s message. This week we speak to Nathan and Iron Roses’ c...
In Defense of Ska Ep 155 Josh Fernandez (Author of “The Hands That Crafted The Bomb: The Making of a Lifelong Antifascist”)
January 03, 2024 09:00 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBDoes being a ska fan inherently make someone an antifascist? While this topic gets frequently debated among ska fans, it’s important to remember that antiracism and antifascism have long been an important part of the ska scene. The 2 Tone ska bands were explicit in their stance. They came up at a time when fascism was on the rise in England, and they dealt with nazi skinheads at their shows. And the bands (mostly) didn’t shy away from confronting these nazis and putting them in their place. ...
Behind The Curtain: 2023 in review with Mike Park & Chris Reeves TEASER
December 31, 2023 23:51 - 7 minutes - 6.91 MBPatreon Exclusive Bonus Episode! And it’s the episode of episodes. You won’t want to miss it! 2023 has been an awesome year. We've had Stewart Copeland, Fred Armisen, Bill Stevenson, Rhoda Dakar, Vic Ruggiero and a bunch of other amazing people. So, to talk about our year, we brought on the great Mike Park. Additionally, we asked our editor Chris Reeves to join the conversation as well. You will gain lots of insight into our guests and hear some secret (very Behind The Curtain) informatio...
In Defense of Ska Ep 154: Daniel Flores (Satélite Kingston, Manera Correcta De Gritar, Rolling Stone Argentina)
December 27, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 88.9 MBLos Fabulosos Cadillacs is one of the biggest ska bands in the world. They formed in Argentina in 1985 and continue to be a major global force in ska and in pop music in general. But Los Fabulosos didn’t evolve out of thin air. This week, we get a crash course on ska’s history in Argentina. To walk us through this fascinating history, we chat with musician and ska historian Daniel Flores. He plays in the Argentinian trad ska band Satélite Kingston, he is the chief editor at Rolling Stone Arg...
In Defense of Ska Ep 153: Anna Valenzuela (Comedy Central Roast Battle, 12 Questions, Murderpuss)
December 20, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 92.8 MBComedian Anna Valenzuela has gone to Fest for the past 3 years. She feels right at home there because she grew up going to punk and ska shows, and when she started comedy in 2014, she often performed on the same bills as punk bands. She got involved in LA’s roast battle scene in 2015 and even participated in the Comedy Central show Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle the following year. This week, we discuss the pockets of comedy in Anna’s world and see where they overlap with ska. Fest comes ...
In Defense of Ska Ep 152: Mikal Reich & Brendog (Mephiskapheles, Barbicide, The Shaved Pigs)
December 13, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 94.2 MBPeople are still fascinated by the idea of Satanic ska. So much that metal magazine Loudwire wrote an article in 2021 called “Satanic Ska is a Real Thing that Actually Exists.” The article was about Mephiskapheles, a New York ska band that formed in 1990. For their debut album, God Bless Satan, they created a unique sound that blended traditional ska rhythms with jazzy and experimental songwriting. As the band progressed, they got weirder and experimental. But what was the tone of group? W...
In Defense of Ska Ep 151: Mega Ran
December 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 73 MBNerdcore hip-hop entered mainstream consciousness in 2016 when a contestant on Jeopardy mentioned being a fan of the genre. Then, host Alex Trebek made a joke about fans of the genre being losers. Mega Ran, one of the main figures nerdcore (Hip-hop that focuses on video games, comic books, anime and other “nerd” topics) posted a diss back at Trebek. It quickly turned into a full on diss track with every major nerdcore rapper. At shows, Mega Ran had the audience shout, “Suck it Trebek!” Tod...
In Defense of Ska Ep 150: Nick Wiger (Doughboys, Get Played)
November 29, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 73.5 MBDoughboys is an extremely popular podcast. On it, hosts Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell discuss chain restaurants, while also chopping it up with different weekly guests, many of who are comedians. Doughboys is kind of a food podcast and kind of a comedy podcast. And it’s a lot of fun to listen to. It’s perfect because who doesn’t have strong opinions about chain restaurants like Taco Bell, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Arby’s, and Outback Steakhouse? Avid Doughboys listeners have noticed...
In Defense of Ska Ep 149: Uli Bella (Ozomatli, Yeska)
November 22, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBOzomatli was formed in Los Angeles in 1995. Right out the gate, they blended a ton of styles: cumbia, funk, hip-hop, salsa. Within that mix, reggae and ska were also prominent ingredients since Day 1. They went all in with Jamaican-influenced music in 2017 with their record Nonstop: Mexico to Jamaica, a brilliant album where they cover popular Mexican and Mexican-American tunes from groups like Maná, Selena, Café Tacvba, and Julieta Venegas and transform them into awesome reggae/ska/rockstea...
In Defense of Ska Ep 148: Rob Bell and Gerry Lundquist (MU330, Skankin’ Pickle, Suzie Cue, Jeffy and the Sunken Heads, The Vulcaneers)
November 15, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 75.4 MBSt. Louis ska band MU330 was formed in 1988. Different members came and went through the course of their first two full-lengths, but by the time they went to record their 1997 masterpiece, Crab Rangoon, they locked in as a five-piece with Dan Potthast, Ted Moll, Chris Diebold, Rob Bell, and former Skankin’ Pickle trombonist Gerry Lundquist. That lineup hasn’t changed since. Most curious about this lineup is the horn section: Two slide trombones. Rather than lean into the high, peppy brass ...
In Defense of Ska Ep 147: Dan Ozzi (Author of Sellout)
November 08, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 81.8 MBAuthor Dan Ozzi’s 2021 book “Sellout” brilliantly profiled 11 punk/hardcore/emo bands that signed to a major label in the 90s/2000s (Green Day, Against Me, Jawbreaker, At The Drive-In). He showed minute details of the scenes these bands came from, how and why they signed to a major, and ultimately what impact making this jump had on them. What’s interesting is how differently each band was impacted by releasing a “sellout” record. We brought Dan Ozzi this week to search for signs of ska in...
Behind The Curtain: A Conversation with John DeDominici & Sean McCabe TEASER
November 03, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBThis is a critical historical conversation! Prepare to have your understanding of Bomb the Music Industry and Arrogant Sons of Bitches EXPANDED with this timeless interview with John DeDominici and Sean McCabe. Everyone know John DeDominici's important contribution to all of Jeff Rosenstock's projects. But what about Sean McCabe? Arguably the most important figure in the Jeff Rosenstock universe...yet he hides in the shadows! He is a secret no more. Listen to this episode and LEARN! All yo...
In Defense of Ska Ep 146: Flying Raccoon Suit (Jessica Jeansonne, Andrew Heaton)
November 01, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 75.1 MBHard Times recently declared Flying Raccoon Suit to be the best ska band out of Mississippi. But, as good as they are, they don’t have a lot of competition—they don’t live in an area filled with ska or punk bands. But part of their charm is this very thing—they bring different influences and life experiences to ska. This is especially apparent in their new highly diverse album, Moonflower, which was released on Bad Times Records on November 3rd. This week, we bring on FRS members Andrew Hea...
In Defense of Ska Ep 145: Stewart Copeland (The Police, Klark Kent)
October 25, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBThe Police exploded in the late 70s. By the early ’80s they were one of the biggest bands in the world with countless hits like “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.” They were classified as New Wave, but ska and reggae were prominent influences in their songs. Their popularity pre-dated the 2 Tone ska explosion. Nearly all of those bands—The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, The Beat, The Bodysnatchers, Bad Manners—opened up for The Police at some point. Toda...
In Defense of Ska Ep 144: Pall Jenkins (Three Mile Pilot, The Black Heart Procession, Ugly Casanova, Mr. Tuba And The Flying Objects)
October 18, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 94.1 MBThe Black Heart Procession were one of the coolest indie rock bands in the 2000s. Creative songwriting, downer vibes and a general steering away from pop sensibilities while still maintaining catchy melodies. But before the band started to blow up in the indie scene, their singer Pall Jenkins fronted the band Three Mile Pilot, a struggling San Diego indie band that released Another Desert, Another Sea (1997), one of the greatest albums of all time (in the opinion of Aaron and Adam). Though n...
In Defense of Ska Ep 143: Hans Gruber and the Die Hards (Chris Thompson, Rosey Armstrong, Kurt Armstrong)
October 11, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 84 MBHans Gruber and the Die Hards came out of the pandemic swinging and ready to take over the ska scene. The band formed in 2014 in Austin, Texas, went through some lineup changes (A big lineup change a few years ago!) and then released their excellent record, With A Vengence, in May 2022 on SPI Records. They want to get the word out and have been touring as much as possible. The group mixes ska with furious hardcore, cumbia, silly singalongs, and whatever else they feel like throwing in the m...
In Defense of Ska Ep 142: Jon Wurster (The Mountain Goats, Superchunk, Bob Mould, Psychotic Norman)
October 04, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 72.8 MBJon Wurster played drums in Superchunk from the early 90s, but left the band earlier this year. He currently plays drums in The Mountain Goats and with Bob Mould. He also famously played the character Ronald Thomas Clontle on The Best Show with Tom Scharpling and declared that Madness invented ska! And Jon certainly jokes around about ska a lot, but when he was a teenager, he really loved the 2 Tone ska bands like The Specials and English Beat. He was also a big fan of The Hooters during t...